Automatic cut-out switch.



E. & B. WAIGAND.-

AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT SWITCH. APPucmog FILED NOV-9. 191s.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

ammtoz E WAI BAND w- AND EhWAIBAND ya. & a. WAIGAND. AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED NOV-9.1916.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEEHT 2.

pm; II. "I 1 I 40 mzggwifizjyiikwzgm 314114 14 to z EDWARD WAIGAND AND BENJAMIN WAIGAND, OF NAMPA, IDAHO.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 191 '7.

Application filed November 9, 1916. Serial No. 130,400.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD VAIGAND and BENJAMIN WAIGAND, citizens of the United States, residing at Nampa, in the county of Canyon and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Cut-Out Switches; and

we do declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates generally to electrical appliances, and more particularly to fuse cut-outs used in connection with threephase circuits.

The primary object of the invention is to produce a mechanically operated means whereby, when a fuse in-any one of the circuits is blown, the switch connecting the circuits will be automatically thrown out of operation with the circuit. In threephase circuits now commonly used, one of the fuses may be blown, but this does not entirely break the circuit, since it will 'continue to operate on a one-phase circuit, tending to overheat the motor or diminsh the lights, as the case may be, with a consequent overheating, overloading, and unbalancing of the entire circuit, with the consequential difliculties wellknown to those skilled in the art. By means of this invention, however, immediately upon any one of the fuses being blown, the switch is thrown open, thus giving immediate notice of the condition of the circuit. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having simple and inexpensive construction, one which will be efiicient and reliable in operation, and

well adapted to the purpose for which it is desi ed. Wit these and numerous other objects i view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and the combinationand arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

.In the accompanying drawingsioming a part of the application and in which similar reference characters designate likeparts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device constructed in accordance with this invention,

showing the switch in its closed position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken on the planes indicated by the lings 33 and 44 respectively of Fig. 2; an

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the device and showing the switch in its open position.

Referring more partlcularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a base, which is preferably rectangular in configuration and composed of a suitable insulating material. Mounted upon the lower end of the base 1 in any convenient manner, is a switch '2, which is biased to open position; that is, it is adapted to be automatically thrown open when released by the latch mechanism to be hereinafter described, by means of springs 3 arranged beneath the blades 4 of the same. As the device is designed more particularly for use in threephase, three-wire circuits, the switch 2 is provided with three blades as shown, and connecting the blades is an insulated cross bar 5. Secured to the cross bar 5 is a plate 6, the outer edge of which is inclined for a purpose to be described.

Mounted upon the base 1 above the switch 2 is a pivoted latch 7 in the form of a substantially flat plate having a notch .8 arranged in its underside adapted to receive the outer edge of the plate and retain the switch 2 in its closed position against the tension of the springs 3.

Pivot-ally mounted upon the base 1 at a point spaced a considerable distance above the point of connection of the latch plate 7 with said base is a plate 9, and connecting the free end of the plate 9 with the free end of the latch 7, is a suitable link member 10,

whereby when said plate 9 is moved upwardly, said latch 7 will also be moved upwardly so as to release the switch 2.

Extending through the base 1 intermediate of the plate 9 and latch 7, and alined transversely of the same, is a trio of binding posts 11, in which are clamped one of the ends of a trio of spring arms 12. As shown, the resiliency of these arms 12 is increased by forming the same with coils 13 near their inner-fixed ends. The outer ends of the arms 12 are disposed adjacent the plate 9 so that they may engage the same and move it to its uppermost position.

Hooked around the free ends of the arms 12 are fuses 14, the other ends of which are secured to binding posts 15 arranged on one of the sides of a su stantially U-shaped bridge member 16, the other side of which is firmly secured to the base 1 between the binding posts 11 and the latch 7. Conductors 17 lead from the binding posts 15 through the fixed arm of the bridge 16, and the base 1, and are connected to one of the clips of the switch 2, while conductors 18 are connected to the binding posts 11 on the back of the base 1 and lead to an additional set of binding posts 19 arranged at the upper end of the base. The free downward swinging movement of the latch plate 7 and the inclined edge of the plate 6 produces a self-setting device, as will be readily understood.

It will thus be seen that any current passing through the device will pass through the spring arms 12, the fuses 14, and switch 2. WVhen, however, one of the fuses should become blown, its respective arm 12 will be released and will bear upon the plate 9 so as to actuate the latch 7 and release. the switch 2. This, when the device is used in connection with three-phase circuits, prevents the motor, lights, or other means for consuming electrical energy, from becoming overheated or injured.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood without a more extended explanation.

As various changes in form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, we do not Wish to be limited to the construction herein shown and described other than as claimed.

We claim:

1. A. device of the character described comprising a base, a switch biased to open position mounted 'upon said base a latch pivoted at one end to said base and adapted to engage said switch to lock the same in its closed position, a plate pivoted at one end to said base, a link member connecting the other ends of said plate and said latch to actuate the latter upon the actuation of the former, a plurality of spring arms secured at one of their ends to said base and having their other ends positioned for engagement with said plate when said arms are released, and a plurality of fuses having one of their ends connected to said other ends of said arms and their other ends rigidly secured to said base to normally hold said arms inoperative.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base, a switch biased to open position mounted upon said base, a latch pivoted at one end to said base and adapted to engage said switch to lock the same in its closed position, a plate pivoted at one end to said base, a link member connecting the other ends of said plate and said latch to actuate the latter upon the actuation of the former, a U -s haped bridge member attached to said base intermediate of said latch and said plate, a pluralit of spring arms having one of their ends xed to said base, said arms being alined transversely of said base adjacent said plate and. having their other ends positioned to engage the latter and move the same to its uppermost position, and a plurality of fuses having one of their ends connected to said other ends of said arms and their other ends secured to the outer side of said bridge memher to normally hold said arms inoperative.

' In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD WVAIGAND. BENJAMIN WAIGAND. Witnesses:

H. J. MILLER, R. N. GILBERT. 

